Improvement in vapor-bath apparatus



JOHN MCNEVEN, OFNEW YORK, N.

Letters Patent N 96,940, dated November 16, -1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN VAPOR-BATH APPARATUS.

The Schedule referred to in these `Letters Patent and makingpaxt of thesama To all whom it may concern Be it known that vI, J ons McNEvEN, ot'the city, county', and State of New York, have invented a newV andimproved iBathiinf-qlparatus; vand I do hereby declare the following tobe a full,- clear, and exact description thereof', which will enablethose skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawing, forming part ot'l this specification, inwhich drawing-.

Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention. i

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Similar let-ters indicate `corresponding parts.

This invention consists, among other things, in the arrangement ot'aseries of boilers in the base-plate of a bathingapparatus, incombination with a perforateddripping-plate, which covers the boilers,and forms the support for the person using the apparatus, in such amanner that by tilling the boilers with water or other fluid, andheating the same, the person enclosed in the apparatus is soon envelopedin a volume of steam, while the drimiing-plate protects theli'eet orother parts oi' the body Vot' said person against the direct action ofthe heat, and serves to carry the water resulting from the condensationof the steam, back into thc pan underneath.

The water in the boiler or boilers is heated by gas or other flames, fedwith the requisite burning material, through' pipes situated in theinterior of the bathing-apparatus, and provided with stop-cocks, so.that the person enclosed in the apparatus can heat either or vall oftheboilers, as may be desirable.

- A hinged partition-plate, in the upper part of the apparatus when letdown, serves to prevent the steam y or heated airv from escaping iu adirect course through the top of the apparatus, and if saidpartition-plate is turned up, and an aperture in the lower part ot' theapparatus is opened, a current ot' cold air passes through the apparatusand cools the same audits occupant ot in a short time.

A condenser, secured in the top of the apparatus,

prevents the escape of steam into the room, and with..l

this condenser is combined a vessel, support-ed by trunnions, which,when filled with water, can be emptied byV pulling a cord, so thattheperson occupying the apparat-us cau have a shower-bath whenever itmay be desirable.

In the drawing, the letterA designates a case iliade ot wood, or anyother suitable material, and large enough to admit one or more grownpersons.

t A door, B. gives admission to. said case, and this door can befastened by any suitable device.

In practice, the door will be provided with panes ot glass, so that thelight has free access to the interior of the case when the door isclosed.

In 4the bottom part of the case A is secured a metal pan, O, which isperforated with a series ot holes, to receive the boilers D, and overthemetal pan extends the base-plate E, which is hinged-t0 thel case, and

provided with ribs a on its lower surface, so that said base-plate, whenturned down to its working position', will be kept at a certainelevation above the boilers D, as shown in the drawing.

This base-plate serves as the 'bottom for the person occupying the `caseA to stand upon, aud it is slightly curved upward, and provided with anumber otsmall holes, l1, so that the waterresulting from thecondensation of steam .in the apparatus, has a' chance to find its way.down into the pan C.

The boilers D are intended to be filled with water or other fluid, whichis heated by llames c, supplied with gas or other burning-material,through pipes l (l.

These pipes branch oil` from a common supply-pipe, c, and they aresituated in the. interior of the case A, and provided with stop-cocksf,so that the person oc' cupying the case is enabled to regulate the heatunder the several receivers, to suit convenience.

The steam rising from the Huid in the boiler or boilers, passes upthrough the pert'orations b, in the' base-plate E, and comes, in contactwith the body of the person enclosed in said case, and the water re-jsulting from the condensation ofthe steam runs back into the pan C.

To the inner sides of the case A are secured the chairs F, the seats vofwhich are perforated, and made ot'sheet-metal, or other suitablematerial, and which are so arranged that they can be turned -up or down.In the upper part ot the case A is the partitionplate G, which is madeotmetal or other suitable material, hinged to the sides ot' the case A,near its back, so that it can be raise-d by means of a rope, y,

which extends from the front edge ot the said partition-plate through aneye-bolt or staple, h, down into the bathing compartment of the case A,so that the person occupying said compartment can readily raise or lowerthe partitionplate. v

If the partition-plate is down, it confines the heat in the bathingcompartment, but if said plate is raised, a current of air may be passedthrough the case A, for the purpose of cooling.

To effect this object, an aperture, fi, is cut into the sides of thecase A, close over the base-plate, and thisl aperture is to be furnishedwith a door or cover, so that it can be opened or closed at convenience.

The top of the case A is perforated with a` large aperture, j, eithersquare, round, or of any other deit may be desirable.

' sirable-form or shape, and in this aperture is secured a Vessel, 7g,made of sheet-metal, or any other suitable material, and in this vesselis secured a second vessel, I, which swings on gudgeons m, and isintended to he illed with cold water.

In the bottom of the outer vessel lc, isa hole, m', through which thesteam from the caseA exhausts, and as this steam comes in Contact withthe cold sides ofthe inner vessel l, it eondeuses, and is thus preventedfrom lling the room.

From the inner vessel Z extends a cord, down into the ease A, so thatthe person' occupying said case, by pulling said cord, can empty thewater contained inthe vessel l, and thus take a shower-bath whenever Ifa hot-air bath is desired instead of a steamrba-th, the boilers D areremoved, and the openings iii the pen C are closed by suitablecovers,'aud,v by heating said pan, the air in the case A can be readilybrought to the desired temperature.

While taking the bath, the mouth or the nose, orl both, may be protectedby fresh air-caps n, from which extend pipes, through openings in thesides of the case,

VD, substantially as described.

so that the person enclosed in said case is supplied with fresh air forbreathing.

Having thus described my invention,

XVhat I claim as new, and' desire to secure by Letters Patent, is g l.The perforated base-plate Ein combination with ease A, and with the panC and the boiler or boilers 2. The pipes d d @,Yprovided with stop-cocksf, in the interior of the case A, in combination with ythe pan C andbase-plate E, and Yboiler or boilers D, sub- `'stantiall y asset forth.

3. The arrangement ofthe hinged partitionfplate G, between the steamingor heating-apparatus, at the yibase of the caseA, and the exhaust at thetop there-

